Reflections

24-10-2015

Another normal week here in the office. We found out early in the week that instead of moving next Monday, the office will only be moved around the beginning of November (though hopefully not during transfer week). This gives us all some more time to let people know that the address for all our mail will be different shortly. Either way though, things will be hectic during November as we make sure everything is put back together and such and nothing gets lost or broken. But such is the office life.

We had interviews this week, with President and Sister Bunnell, on Thursday (as usual during district meeting). It was good. I had a good conversation with both of them and they probably learnt some new stuff about me. They also expressed their appreciation for the work I do (mainly in helping with the computer stuff), even though it does not seem like much to me, since I have been working with computers since before I could read. But I do understand that it means a lot to them.

The rest of the week, we worked in the office and in the evenings went to a dinner appointment (since we had one each evening; it was pretty nice) and thereafter knocked on doors, talked to people and visited other people. Nothing too crazy happened, but we did run into some familiar faces, one of which was a man we once taught, that I had not seen in about a year, if not longer. We told him we'd come back later in the week. As we were driving home that night, we also saw a member that moved to Amsterdam from Leiden some time ago (and interestingly he also went on joint teach with us to the guy we found earlier in the day). 

On Friday, a member from Turnhout drove up here to see one of my companions (who used to serve there) and take us to dinner. We ate at an all you can eat sushi restaurant. It was soooo good. The member also brought a bunch of chocolate. Besides all that, he was also a really cool guy.

"In our trials, let us not become bitter or uncommitted, but let us follow the Savior’s example of becoming more earnest, more sincere, and more faithful." - James B. Martino

At the Sushi restaurant

Happy to get some candy corn

Holiness to the Lord

17-10-2015

Temple conference this week!! 

Tuesday was crazy. We left really early in the morning to go the temple, from there to the church in Den Haag and then from there to the church in Leiden for the YSA activity. Surprisingly enough, we were not late for anything. But being in the temple again after about 6 months was great. You always learn something new each time. It is fascinating how that works. 

The subsequent conference at the Den Haag church was great, too. Several different topics and all great speakers. YSA activity was also a success. Down to 6 from the 11 last time, it was still not a bad turnout and there were 3 non-members and 1 "vulnerable" case, haha. I think everyone had fun, which is always important, of course and we shared "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father" with the group.

The next day we had to go back to Den Haag (with the train) to pay for the pizzas (and naturally, eat some, too). I was happy that I got to see (if not talk to) everyone in the mission over the course of both days. Though I would have liked to have spoken to some more people, there just was not enough time.

The rest of the week, I got a lot of work done in the office. But I got everything done that I needed to, so it was good. I would prefer not to have to work overtime, haha. President dropped by during the week and I helped him out with a few things.
Today, for p-day, no football but instead we shopped and e-mailed early and then may go to a shop or something in the afternoon. I would be fine just saying in the office and maybe playing Munchkin or something. 

"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life."

The Music of the Gospel

10-10-2015

On Tuesday, we helped our now former ward mission leader with his move to Zoetermeer, after district meeting. We loaded up a bunch of furniture in the mission van and drove it to his new place in Zoetermeer. The following Sunday was his and his family's last in Leiden and they both spoke, during the testimony meeting. I really wonder now how soon we will get a new ward mission leader. Hopefully it will not be too long, it is an important calling after, I think.

The whole week, two people from Facilities Management were busy in the new office, working on moving the walls and installing shelving and other storage. (Whenever one of them spoke over the intercom to be let in at the back, he claimed he was some apostle, I had to laugh). 

Wednesday evening, we had ward council and discussed a few important things and some people in need of assistance or extra support. We officially announced the bi-monthly YSA activities to the council, as it is going so well. 

On Saturday we did not do that much for p-day, which was fine. In the evening we ate at everyone's favourite Australian-Dutch family in Nieuw Vennep. It was a lot of fun and of course great food. I really hope I can keep visiting them until the end of my mission... 

Being without a car is not so bad, the bus system in Leiden is quite manageable. But I will be happy when we drive again, haha. This just gives a taste of how it was for office elders "back in the day". It has already been a while since the necessary application was submitted, so it will not be long before we are on the road again. It has also been hard to continue visiting all of our investigators or other interested people, since we have so little time and travelling takes so much longer.

"You cannot make children learn music or anything else without to some degree converting them into will-less adults" - A.S. Neill

A New Beginning

03-10-2015

Transfer week again!

Another 9 gone (including 1 sister) and 12 more arrived. My 4th set of companions departed for their new cities (Alkmaar as ZL and Den Bosch as DL and trainer) and the 5th and final set are now flying solo. The training wheels are off. The flotation devices are gone. The-... You know what I mean.

For the first days of the week, Monday to early on Wednesday, my old companions were still around to continue training the new guys and help them with various stuff for transfers. But after that, they were on their own.

We discussed everything concerning transfers with President on Monday and prepared everything that day and the morning of the next. We also prepared the conference room to do the orientation there. The largest group we have ever had at the office. That evening, President and Sister Bunnell went out to eat with my old companions and I went with the new guys, by bus, to our dinner appointment in Wassenaar, with one of my favourite families. We had a good time there.

The next day, the greenies arrived not long before midday and were brought back to Leiden by train. After lunch at Oudt Leyden (also the biggest group there, I believe), they headed down to Rijswijk for legality and the back for interviews, orientation and a nap. I ate with my old companions at a member's house, while the other guys ate at the hotel with the greenies. We then went to the church for the YSA activity. About a dozen YSA (both member and not) were there, which was surprising, but good of course.

Wednesday, transfer day. The training for the new missionaries, as well as for the trainers, continued at the hotel and a lot of the rest of the mission gathered in the four main stations, as usual to get new companions or go to a new city.

The rest of the week was very busy for my companions, so it was hard to get out much to do missionary work, but we squeezed in a few hours where we could. Over time, they will get into the groove and things will not be so busy. 

This morning, we played football and I enjoyed it. I think I am still getting better at it, luckily. We then took the bus back to Leiden and showered, shopped and will probably go have a look around the centre, since it is the 3rd of October, day of Leiden's liberation from the Spanish in the 17th century.

"You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become uninterested in money, compliments, or publicity." - Thomas Wolfe

34 - 32

26-09-2015

It feels like ages since we had our last zone training. I barely knew what to expect (though that may also have something to do with it starting at 9 and ending right after lunch, at 1. But it was definitely a good training. The zone leaders, sister training leader and district leaders spoke about how to better work with investigators so that they trust us, how working with your companion(s) will help the teaching and about setting baptismal dates. We did some roleplays with members from Zoetermeer and Den Haag and that was educational.

The few days leading up to zone training, I spent working on a video for the zone leaders, for zone training, wherein all of the missionaries in the zone filmed a short "I'm a Mormon" video. Some of them were most amusing. And everyone liked how I put them all together, but most importantly, I had fun making it.

The new office elders are getting trained and stuff and all that is going well. We have bit too much fun at times, but such is to be expected when you have 5 elders cooped up in a small apartment, haha. And nothing has been broken so far, so all is well. The old office elders are doing the best they can to transfer everything related to their work in the office with very little time left. As of now, they will not have much, if any, time to do further training than on transfers matters. But for the next few months, they'll only be a phone call away. (I just realised that at the end of January, these two will be on their own, since there will no longer be any former office elders and I will be gone, too. I guess I better teach them all they need to know before then). 

One of the perks of getting new companions in the office with a known departure date, is that we get lots of dinner appointments so that they can say goodbye. Unfortunately, the new guys were excluded for some of them, but they'll have their time. It is definitely strange to think that the next time goodbyes are being said, it will be me saying them. I have outlived 4 companionships in the office. Three of them I partially trained and the 5th total will outlive me.

At some point during the week, on the way back from Katwijk, we dropped by the house in which we used to live. Since it was nighttime (and all the light fixtures had been removed) it was dark inside. Combined with it being empty of everything, it was quite weird. But a good way to say goodbye to the house, used by missionaries for over 22 years (and by myself for 19 months of that time).

An old friend of mine dropped by the office on Friday (probably to see one of my companions, that served in Zwolle) and we had a short chat. She returned from the mission field some four months ago and is studying in Leiden.

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." - George S. Patton

RWC 2015

19-09-2015

I coordinated with the young adults concerning some changes in the YSA game nights, including a shift to a more spiritual side and an increase in frequency to twice a month. We will see how that goes. So far there has been a healthy amount of interest in attending by the YSA with whom I have spoken. The next one will be in two weeks, right in the middle of transfers, but it will be fine. The training of the new guys is going well. Though a few days were spent out of the office, making the training more difficult.

District meeting, on Tuesday, was interesting again. We did some weird game where we had to guess what the other person's answer would be to a question. But since it involved knowing our companions, and I was with the new guys (after about 5 days together), my team did not do so well.

Friday morning, we drove over to the mission home during mission leader council and made lunch for the leadership gathered there. The preparation consisted mainly of cutting up vegetables and cooking some meat (the meal was a baked potato bar). And the best part was eating it afterwards with them.

On Sunday, we had a dinner appointment with one of my favourite families in the ward. One of the kids broke his collarbone and was at the hospital with his father, so it was a bit less fun than normal, but it was still great. 

"Do I dare

Disturb the universe?

In a minute there is time

For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse."

- T.S. Eliot

After we made lunch for mission leader council.